The first simulation based operator training centre in the United Arab Emirates has achieved significant improvements less than a year after implementation. Stevin Rock, one of the largest mining groups in the world, has made improvements in safety, maintenance and productivity through Immersive Technologies’ simulation training.

With access to 17 billion tonnes of surveyed reserves, Stevin Rock faces a huge shortage in the availability of a skilled workforce. The company favours South East Asian workers but has found that structured professional training is not common in India. Stevin Rock aimed to implement a solid training procedure and format for its future prosperity and continual presence as the market leader in the region. After learning about the full training solution and support from Immersive Technologies, Stevin Rock invested in multiple simulators and equipment modules to support their training efforts. As part of the implementation Training Consultants from Immersive Technologies delivered Training Systems Integration (TSI) including the development of site specific training syllabus, curriculum and lesson plans.

The training solution, which included simulators, Training Consultant Services, eLearning, Instructor Led Training and other training tools from Immersive, was integrated into the existing site training program and provided comprehensive support during initial new technology implementation phase.

“The way Stevin Rock welcomed and embraced the technology allowed them to fast track capital Return on Investment and achieve consistent training outcomes. Anytime new technology is brought to sites there is a risk of how well it will be adopted but their training program is now very structured and their adoption of our best practice integration has mitigated that risk,” says Lucas Natoli, Account Development Manager, Immersive Technologies.

Group HSEQ Manager Darren Guy says “Stevin Rock has seen reductions in all accident types involving mobile plant. Poor operation of machinery has been vastly reduced and this has resulted in greater availability, less downtime and parts cost. Other benefits have included greater safety awareness of operators and improved communication with all departments. The flow of data to and from the training team has allowed us to fine tune the simulators and focus on key issues, giving continual improvement in all areas. The flexibility of the system has allowed us to achieve consistency in the training of green operators; being able to give full in depth training on all aspects, and more experienced operators; where specific ‘bad habits’ can be identified and tackled quickly and efficiently.”

Stevin Rock has been the leading quarry operator in the Middle East for more than 35 years with the capacity to produce and sell more than 45 million tonnes per year of high-grade limestone, gabbro rock, concrete and asphalt aggregates for the construction and manufacturing markets of the UAE, Gulf region and Asia.

They own and operate three quarries in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah – Khor Khuwair, Al Ghail and Kadra – containing 7 billion tonnes of surveyed reserves. At current maximum output, they will be able to deliver for well over 150 years.

“Stevin Rock has a prolific future and we are proud this training solution will provide them with the skilled labour needed to deliver well into the future,” Natoli says.

Training is underway at Stevin Rock’s simulation training centre. The company has already seen improvements in safety, maintenance and productivity through Immersive Technologies’ simulation training.

As part of the implementation Training Consultants from Immersive Technologies delivered Training Systems Integration (TSI) including the development of site specific training syllabus, curriculum and lesson plans.

About Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world’s largest, proven and tested supplier of surface and underground Advanced Equipment Simulators to the global mining industry. The company has achieved this unique position by focusing on its mission to increase Customer profitability by optimizing the safety and productivity of their operators. Immersive Technologies’ Advanced Equipment Simulators are helping hundreds of mining companies around the world to increase their equipment operators’ safety and site profitability through effective simulation training.

Immersive Technologies provides its customers with the most effective Advanced Equipment Simulators available. This is made possible through the formal licensing and technical information alliances Immersive has established with the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), including: Caterpillar Global Mining, Hitachi, Komatsu and Liebherr. These unique alliances provide Immersive Technologies with access to the OEM’s proprietary and confidential machine technical information that is required to correctly simulate the OEM’s machines and is not available through other public or dealer channels.

With advanced simulator modules deployed in 44 countries, Immersive Technologies is dedicated to provide outstanding service. To deliver on this commitment the company has customer sales and support offices located close to its customers in Perth and Brisbane Australia, Salt Lake City USA, Fort McMurray, Ottawa & Vancouver Canada, Monterrey Mexico, Lima Peru, Santiago Chile, Belo Horizonte Brazil, Bochum Germany, Johannesburg South Africa, Jakarta Indonesia, Kolkata India and Moscow Russia.